Electric-light switch



D. A. BYERLY.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SWITCH.

APPLICATION mm AUG.26. m9.

WITNESS:

A TTORN E Y.

D. A. BYERLY.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. m9.

1,343, 109. Patented June 8, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS: E 11v VENTOR.

A TTORN E Y.

DENNiS a BYEBLY, or 'rnnn'n HAU'IE, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SWITCH.

Application filed August 26, 1919. Serial N0. 319,895.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENNIS A. BYERLY, a citizen of the-United States ofAmerica residin at Terre Haute, in the county of li'igo and tate ofIndiana, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Electric-LightSwitches, of w ich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to control switches for automobiles and has forits object the provision of a switch by means of *whichcurrent may besupplied from a battery or magneto to the headlights'of an automobileand also to the tail light, the switch and connections being so arrangedthat the headli hts may be connected in parallel to give airight lightor in series to give a light, the switch being also so constructed thata suitable ignition lock may be disposed at the center thereof.

An important object is the provision of a switch of this character whichmay also be constructed to control the ignition of the automobile aswell'as the lights, by an extremely simple movement.

An additional ob ect is simple and inexpensive in manufacture, high!efficient in use,-'durable in service, not 1i ely to get out of order,and a general im rovement in the art.

ith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the instrument board of anautomobile with my switch in position,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the switch structure,

Fig. 3 is an inside view of the back cover,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view at right angles to Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the movable member, and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electric circuit.

Referring more articularly to the drawings, the letter A esignates theinstrument board of an automobile, B desi ates the headlamps, Cdesignates the tail amp, and D designates a suitable source of current.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

the provision of a switch of this character which will be very PatentedJu'ne 8:19.26.

In carrying out In invention I provide a switch structure w ichcomprises an'attaclnng plate 10 adapted for disposition a must t einstrument board A and suita ly secured thereto. This late preferablcarries the legends Off, im, and On. The late 10 is provided centrallywith a circu ar hole 11 within which works and throu which extends theswitch handle 12. isposed againstthe rears'ide of the plate 10 andsecured-thereto, is a cup-shaped metallic casing 13.1 This casin' isprovided with a circularo enin back 0 the opening 11 and is also ormewith 'a- -tongue- 14. The casing 13 is provided with an outwardlyextendin flan e 15 against which is disosed an to w ich'is secured theback memer 16 of the switch, this back member being formed of fiber orother suitable-insulatin material. Extendin through and suitab y securedwithin the ack member 16 are to the handle member 12' 1s a supportingblock 23 formed of fiber or other suitable insulating material. Thisblock 23 is pro vided with a'slot 24 of a arc within which is engagedthe rojection 14 whereby movement of the blocii 23 by means of thehandle member 12, will be limited to 60.

Secured upon the block are contact members 25 and 26. The contact member25 is formed as a semi-circular ring 27 secured to the block 23 andextending therefrom a plurality of inclined spring fingers 28, 29, 30and 31 adapted to engage the contacts 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The contact26 comprises a portion of a ring 32 secured to the block 23 and springfingers 33 and 34 engageable with the contacts 20 and 21. One of theignition terminals 17 is connected with the source of current D, as isthe contact 19 and the other terminal 17 is connected with the i nitionsystem of the automobile. I provide a leaf spring 35 secured to thecontact 17 and adapted to be moved into engagement with the contact 17when a button 36 is engaged against the spring 35, as by insertion of akey through the handle member 12, this key structure being not Disposedwithin the casing 13 and secured shown. The contact 21 is connected withthe ground and one terminal of the battery is also grounded.

The operation of the device is as follows When the switch is in the offposition and the contact fingers 30 and 31 are in engagement with thecontacts 20 and 21 no current will flow through any of the lamps.

When the switch is turned to the dim position the spring finger 28willbe in engagement with the contact 22, the spring finger 30 will bein enga ernent with the contact 19, and the spring ng'er 31 will engagethe contact 20 whereupon current may flow from the sources through thecontacts and through the head lamps in series, the head lamps be inconsequently lighted dimly-while the tai light is lighted brightly.

\Vhen the switch is turned to the on position, the finger 29 will engagethe contact 22, the finger 30 will engage the contact 18 and the finger31 will engage the contact 19, the fin er 33 will engage the contact 20,and 34 wil? engage 21. Current will then flow from the source I), to 17,to contact 19, finger 31, segment 27, finger 29, contact 22, throughtail light C to tie ground. At the same time, the current passing throuh segment 2?, will divide, a part going tirough finger 30, contact 18,and to the wire connectin the head lamps. wire, t e current againdivides, one portion passing through the left lamp to the ground, and aportion passing through the right headlight to contact 20, through socut/32, and finger 34 to the ground. he head lights, as well as the taillight, will then be ener ized and all will be in parallel and brilg tlylighted.

rom the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent Upon reaching this that I have'thus provided an extremelysimple and inexpensive control switch whereby the head lamps of anautomobile may be connected in series .to .give a dim light or connectedin arallel to'give a bri ht light, the tail light eing brightly lightein both cases.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention it-.is of course to be understood that I reserve the right tomake such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts aswill not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope-ofthesuhjoinedi claim.

Having thus describedi my. invention, I claim A control switch of thecharacter described comprisin .a station: front plate provided withasecured to the rear face of saidplate an having an outwardly extendin'flange, a rear plate of insulating mater-is secured to said flange andforming a rear closure, a pluralit of cont ots arranged. incircumferentia series on'said rear plate, a circu'lar handie memberextending; through the opening in said front plate, a block ofinsulating material. secured to said handle member within said casing,and a air'of contact members secured upon sai block, one of said lastnamed contact members including a pair of spring fingers engageableselectivel with enact the contacts carried by said ack late andfurtlmvineludi a, pair of spri-ngngers seleetirelyen agea' lewith certain ofsaid coma-oh m e and the other second centuet including a pair ofspitting-fingersselectively enageable with the 'rememingones of said rstnamed contact members.

In testimony whereof I: aflizc my si nature.

DENNIS A. BY 1 LY.

101e, a cup-s aped casein

